2017Herpa sets its toy department on its own two feet. After releasing its first puzzle vehicle products, the company has entered into the license business with “Mia and me”, and is offering houses, vehicles and accessories for children from the age of five with Herpa-City. All other toy products will henceforth be marketed under the name Herpa-Toys.

2015After its distribution cooperation with Roco comes to an end, Herpa kicks off its own military brand “Military”. Fans who admire the technology of the originals will appreciate these vehicles and airplanes especially.

2013Back to the 1/43 scale: After a decades-long wait, Herpa once again presents vehicles in the 1/43 scale, starting with the Audi A3 and the Golf VII. The two models are first to be delivered to their respective manufacturer and some months later to retail stores. Soon after, luxury manufacturer Porsche will also have one of its vehicles produced as a miniature in this scale, which will also be available at specialty stores. At the Toy Fair, Herpa presents an unprecedented new subject in model production: The Liebherr crawler crane is subsequently released on many semitrailers, capable of being erected in all its detailed glory.

2010Excursion into the 1/43 scale. For the first time in over 10 years, Herpa once again presents a 1/43 scale model at the Toy Fair. With the idea to re-invent a modern-design Trabi as electric city cruiser, Herpa already attracted worldwide interest in 2007. In September 2009, the ConceptCar “Trabant nT” was premiered at the IAA. Independent from Herpa, the idea “Trabant nT” was further advanced by a consortium of automobile specialists. Maybe one day the cult car will return to the streets (more on that at www.trabant-nt.de )

2009Fürst Andreas zu Leiningen takes over Herpa and puts Herpa back on a financially sound footing. The restructured management consisting of Klaus Schindler for distribution, Walter Wehr for production and Werner Kuhn for administration, is appointed to lead the company sustainably back on a profitable road to success utilizing measures to increase efficiency, to reduce costs and for market-orientation. The Wagner family retires from the company and from management.

2008The “load“ of a heavy load transport causes a stir in the model building world: The almost 11 million Euro yacht “Catwalk” was the biggest luxury yacht ever displayed at a fair – it was premiered at the “Boot” fair in Düsseldorf in the beginning of 2006. In the 1/87 scale, the ship hits new superlatives: a length of 47.5 centimeters makes it one of the biggest and most detailed models ever produced in the 1/87 scale.

2007Herpa conquers space! In cooperation with the American Space Agency NASA, we'll premiere an authentic Space Shuttle model in the 1/500 scale. „The Enterprise" was the prototype of the Space Shuttle, with which the NASA has started its space shuttle project in 1977. Additional eye-catchers at the Toy Fair 2007 are the first samples of the new Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" and the "Schneewittchen-Express" (snow white express) - a car transport train, loaded with eight models of the legendary Volvo P1800 "Schneewittchensarg" (snow white's casket).

2006At the toy fair presented Herpa, next to now complete construction sets for airports in the 1/500 scale with illumination, also an exact replica of a John Deere tractor and entered the area of agricultural models. In cooperation with the ZDF, a German television channel, was a model of the legendary construction trailer from television cult figure Peter Lustig produced.

2005Consorted world in the middle of the year For the very first time, Herpa is not responsible for a exact replica but for the original itself. For an air show in the USA a DC-3 has been pasted up with Herpa colors and commutes between various air shows in the US. Of course we have smaller ones of the “big” original available: in 1/500 and 1/200 scale.

2004Herpa sets new standards – again. Especially as a promotional gift for airlines the first airplane model in the 1/1000 scale will be released. The Liebherr mobile crane inspires not only the fans of the Herpa construction vehicles.

2003The presentation of the Herpa Monument Train becomes the talk of the day as the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg opens. Together with model train manufacturer Märklin, a high-quality train set is released, based on the idea of the Herpa Monument Truck. The presentation of the Mercedes SLR McLaren at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt makes the Herpa model a great companion to the newly released super sports car.

2002The release of the Liebherr wheel loader in the 1/87 scale is a great surprise. When the model is delivered in summer, collectors and model railway builders rave about it. The starter set „transport company“ is the first of a series of quick-to-assemble diorama sets. It fits in with a new trend: building a nice diorama without spending too much time on its construction.

2001Start of the retailer initiative Herpa eXtra. The combined online/offline distribution concept got off to a flying start with fifty initial retailers. A Herpa Wings Christmas model will be produced for the very first time – and it is sold out within a very short time.

2000www.collect.herpa.de offers detailed product information on the different fields of collection. This makes it easier for the collectors to cultivate their personal collection and to heighten the enjoyment of their models. The MAN TGA will be finished in time for the International Motor Show and it develops into a top favorite in the sector of collecting and advertising models.

1999Introduction of the Herpa Wings Club. The first models of airport buildings in the 1/500 scale arrive in stores. The first car models in the 1/160 scale premier at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Herpa turns 50! The company Herpa, founded in 1949, celebrates its 50th anniversary in Dietenhofen this July with a huge festival.

1998An ever-growing number of industrial customers discover the attractiveness of Herpa Wings as an advertising instrument and order airplane models with the imprinting of their company logo. Several airlines also have Herpa Wings models in their respective colors on stock for on-board sales. The first European truck models in the 1/160 scale are shipped simultaneously with the start of the annual Toy Fair.

1997Issue #1 of the first international magazine for collectors of airplane models WingsWorld is released by Herpa in June. The first samples of a new range of airplane replicas in the 1/200 scale are presented. Herpa introduces its modular lighting system Epsilon. Another first for Herpa, automobile “youngtimers”, are shown at the International Toy Fair Nuremberg, and are distributed in the course of the year.

1996With the release of the new mold of an ATR-72, Herpa for the first time offers propeller-driven airplanes in the 1/500 scale. Herpa receives permission from Condor Flugdienst GmbH for the production of a replica of their anniversary plane, the “Rizzi Bird” – to date one of the most labor intensive models in the Herpa Wings range. The first set of airport accessories is produced. Herpa receives the ISO 9001 certificate from the Bavarian Trade and Business Institute for the upholding of a quality management system that meets the highest European norms.

1995A car interior consisting of two parts is incorporated in the BMW Z3 for the first time. The “Herpa Wings” range is constantly enlarged by numerous new models. Among other things, a licensing contract with the airplane manufacturer Boeing is signed.

1993Herpa presents the first motorcycle in the 1/87 scale, consisting of twelve individual parts. Another novelty is the introduction of die-cast toy automobiles for children.

1990-1992Our partner in the Far East receives the first order for the production of miniature metal airplane models in the 1/500 scale. Product and quality management for the replicas remain in Dietenhofen. The miniatures sport authentic “miniaturizations” of the engines of the various manufacturers. Herpa has now become one of the few producers of miniature aircraft in the world featuring authentic replicas of the engines. Another special feature of the aircraft models are their rolling landing gear. In 1992, the airplane models in the 1/500 scale are first presented to the public at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. The new model series “Herpa Wings” is born. Several airlines place orders with Herpa for the production of airplane models in their respective colors.

1989With the introduction of computer technology, development and form construction are greatly modernized. The Ferrari F40 in the 1/87 and 1/43 scales is presented at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Together with an associated company in the Far East, a new concept is in the works that will make the same Herpa-typical precision possible in the smaller 1/500 scale. The tamp printing process already successfully utilized in the miniature automobile field is also to be adapted for these needs.

1987The first plastic samples of airplane models, of Boeing 747-200s in the 1:500 scale are produced. In contrast to the competition, these models carried prints, not decals. Herpa presents these models to Lufthansa at an initiation ceremony for a Boeing 737-300 at Nuremberg Airport. They are so excited about the great precision of the models they order the production of the Lufthansa Model-Edition in the 1/200 scale exclusively for the airline.

1988Herpa launches the Lufthansa Model Edition with a highly detailed replica of the Boeing 737-300. In addition to several other replicas of contemporary aircraft of the fleet, plans for historical models in the 1/160 scale (Junkers Ju52) are in the making. A 2,000 square meter extension of the production facilities is built.

1986With the release of the new HIGH-TECH series in the 1/87 scale, Herpa sets new standards in model production. The first model in the series is the Ferrari Testarossa consisting of twenty-two pieces, an opening hood and technical features such as a twelve-cylinder motor and wheels with separate suspension. Herpa starts to develop the idea of producing airplane miniatures.

1985Herpa delivers most of the models at the 51st International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The truck collection now includes all common types.

1984The International Toy Fair in Nuremberg shows Herpa as the manufacturer with the largest range of models of contemporary car miniatures. The ten millionth model roles out of the factory at Dietenhofen.

1982&1983The first issue of the model magazine “Der Maßstab” for model collectors premiers at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. At the 50th International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Herpa miniatures were already in use with fifteen car and car body manufacturers.

1981Starting this year, all truck models sport tipping cabins revealing an exact reproduction of a motor. An ever-growing number of industrial customers use Herpa’s car models as an advertising instrument with their own company’s imprinting.

1980Herpa presents the first truck models.

1978&1979Herpa, for the first time, presents car models in the H0-1/87 scale at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Through the precise detailing, these models quickly become not only a decorative and attractive addition to railway dioramas, but also sought-after collectors’ items in their own right. Claus and Dieter Wagener, Fritz Wagener's two sons, continue to extend this product line. Every following car model is put on the market using snap-fit construction (without any necessary gluing).

1971For the first time, Herpa presents assembly kits for buildings in the N-scale (1/160 scale) at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Thanks the minute detailing of these kits, the company itself gains an ever-growing recognition on the market.

1968The production facilities in Dietenhofen are expanded to a total area of 2,200 square meters.

1965On July 12, 1965, the topping-out ceremony is celebrated in Dietenhofen, and the machines start running by October. The company “Herpa” is taken over. From now on, Fritz Wagener continues to produce plastic parts for the photo, record and auto industry under the name “RIWA” and accessories for the model train-sets under “Herpa”, both in Dietenhofen.

1961On March 15, 1961, Fritz Wagener establishes the company for the production of plastic parts for the photo and record industries, the production facility in Nuremberg soon starts looking for larger premises outside of the city.

1949The Company “Hergenröther und Patente” is founded in Beilngries by inventor and patent holder Wilhelm Hergenröther to produce accessories for model trains. The initials of the company’s name make up the short form of “Herpa”. Among other things, he set up the production for model train accessories like artificial turf, little trees, other types of landscaping, modular train arrangements, and tunnel accessories in a branch factory at Beilngries.